Skate assembly with external mounting blocks

ABSTRACT

A skate assembly includes a boot having an upper portion and a sole portion, a frame that supports ground engagement members such as wheels or an ice skate blade, and external mounting blocks. A plurality of attachment members such as nut plates are embedded in a toe end of the sole portion and a second plurality of attachment members embedded in a heel end of the sole portion. The external mounting blocks are removably attachable to the sole through the embedded attachment members. The frame attaches to the boot through the external mounting blocks. The boot is attachable to different frames having different mount configurations by adjusting or interchanging the external mounting blocks.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/357,911, filed Jun. 23, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Skating, including ice skating and roller skating, has rapidly grown to become one of the most popular and diverse forms of recreational and professional athletic activities in the United States and elsewhere. Skating activities range from aerobic exercise for skating enthusiasts, to competitive racing in international competitions, to team sports such as hockey and roller derby, to artistic performances. Different skates are required for inline skating, quad skating, ice skating, competitive skating, recreational skating, and inline marathon skating, among others. The skates for each skating discipline possess particular attributes to maximize performance for that particular activity. Currently, skaters must purchase completely different skates for the growing number of different skating disciplines.

A typical skate for any of these activities will generally include a shoe or boot that receives the user's foot and provides a sturdy sole, a chassis, frame or truck that attaches directly to the sole of the boot, and one or more ground engagement elements, for example wheels or ice skate blades. In each of these modes of skating different constructions and standards have evolved and continue to evolve with regard to attachment of the chassis to the boot.

For example, as inline skating popularity has expanded and wheel technology has improved, the diameter of inline skating wheels has gradually increased. The increasing wheel size has resulted in changes to the spacing between toe-end and heel-end frame mounting locations. Initially no standard mounting spacing was adopted, and it was therefore very difficult to interchange parts between different manufactures and even between different skate models from the same manufacturer. More recently, conventional inline skate chassis typically attach to a boot at the toe end and at the heel end, using one of several standard distances between the mounting locations, e.g., 150 mm, 165 mm, and 195 mm. Other mounting spacings are also still used, for example to accommodate oversized wheels and the like. The different spacings still present a barrier to interchanging different components between inline skates.

Often a particular user will engage in more than one skating activity, for pleasure and/or for training purposes. For example, a competitive winter ice skater may pursue inline skating during the summer months. There are no industry standards that allow a user to use the same boot for different skating activities. For example, there are no standards that would permit the use of the same boot with both an inline skate chassis and an ice skate chassis. Therefore the user is required to purchase a completely different set of equipment for each of the desired skating activities. As skating boots have advanced and become more technically sophisticated, this results in a significant cost. The requirement for separate equipment is expensive for the user, and may therefore limit the activities they might enjoy. Moreover, the user must break in corresponding new boots for each activity.

This situation is also expensive and inconvenient for vendors, who must maintain completely different stock for the different skating activities, and different spacing standards. For example, a skate vender specializing in inline skates may be compelled to maintain three sets of boot stock for each style of boot, to be able to accommodate 150 mm, 165 mm, and 195 mm mounting spacings.

Even within the same skating discipline, different skating styles and skate assemblies may preclude an enthusiast from using the same boots for different activities. For example, a conventional inline skate includes a frame having a plurality wheels rotatably mounted and longitudinally aligned. A skate shoe or boot is attached to the top of the frame, usually at a rearward location, e.g., at the heel of the boot, and at a forward location, e.g., at the ball or in the metatarsal region. In a conventional skate a single forward mounting position in the frame is positioned to attach at a single forward mounting position in the boot, and a single rearward mounting position in the frame is positioned to attach at a single rearward mounting position in the boot. Such conventional inline skate frames are shown, for example, in U.S. Design Pat. No. D470,208, to Bont, which is hereby incorporated by reference, and in U.S. Design Pat. No. D465,538, to Chen, which is also hereby incorporated by reference.

The adjustable mounting mechanism of the current invention allows for the use of the same boot for different skating activities, or with different brands of chassis. The mounting mechanism of the current invention allows the user to attach different frames to the sole of the skate boot to accommodate different mount sizes and different attachments, such as skate blades or wheels. It also allows a user to adjust the mounting position on a particular chassis, for example moving the mounts forward, rearward, or side to side, or to adjust the height of the mount, to change from a high profile or a low profile, but selecting different external mounting blocks.

There is a need, therefore, for a skate boot design that may be used with mounting positions having different spacings.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

A skate novel assembly is disclosed that allows a user to use the same boot with different skate frames having different mounting means. The assembly further enables user control of the height or profile of the boot on a particular frame, and on the pitch or angle of the boot with respect to the particular frame.

The skate assembly includes a boot having a sole portion and an upper portion, wherein the sole portion includes a first attachment member embedded in a toe end of the sole portion, and a second attachment member embedded in a heel end of the sole portion. A frame has a front attachment platform spaced a distance from a back attachment platform. A forward external mounting block is removably attached to the first attachment member, and is configured to attach to the front attachment platform of the first frame. Similarly, a rearward external mounting block is removably attached to the second attachment member, is configured to attach to the back attachment platform of the first frame.

In an embodiment the skate assembly further comprising a second frame having a front attachment platform spaced a second distance from a back attachment platform, wherein the first distance is different from the second distance.

In an embodiment, the sole portion further comprises a third attachment member embedded in the sole portion at a location between the first attachment member and the second attachment member, and further wherein the forward external mounting block hardware is configured to attach the forward external mounting block to the front attachment platform of the second frame and the rearward external mounting block hardware is configured to attach the rearward external mounting block to the back attachment platform of the second frame.

In an embodiment, the first frame is an inline skate frame and the second frame is one of an inline skate frame, an ice skate frame, and a quad skate frame.

In an embodiment, a third attachment member is embedded in the sole portion, and at least one of the forward and rearward external mounting blocks is removably configured to be removably attached to the third plurality of attachment members.

In an embodiment, the mounting blocks and boot are configured to permit the boot to be attached to a frame having mounting locations spaced 195 mm apart and to be mounted to a frame having mounting locations spaced 165 mm apart.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a skate assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2A is cross-sectional view of the skate assembly shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B shows an exploded cross-sectional view;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the external mounting block for the skate assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the skate assembly shown in FIG. 1, with an alternative set of mounting blocks;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of a second embodiment of a skate assembly similar to the skate assembly shown in FIG. 1, but having a plurality of mounting locations on the sole of the boot for at least one of the external mounting blocks;

FIG. 6 illustrates the skate boot of FIG. 4 mounted on a frame;

FIG. 7 is partially exploded view of the lower portion of another embodiment of a skate assembly having embedded attachment plates and fasteners that extend downwardly and are slidably disposed in slots; and

FIG. 8 is a partially exploded view of the lower portion of another embodiment of a skate assembly in accordance with the present invention, with mounting blocks that sit in recesses on the bottom of the boot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an external mounting mechanism for skates, such as inline skates, quad skates, and ice skates including long-track skates, short-track skates, hockey skates, and the like. The system includes external mounting blocks disposed between the boot and the skate chassis that are adjustable, interchangeable and/or replaceable. In some embodiments a plurality of interchangeable mounting blocks accommodate different chassis sizes and configurations, and permit users to selectively vary the orientation of the skate boot with respect to the frame.

A first embodiment of an inline skate assembly 100 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. A fragmentary cross-sectional view of the skate assembly 100 is shown in FIG. 2A and a corresponding partially exploded cross-sectional view is shown in FIG. 2B.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the skate assembly 100 includes a conventional skate chassis or frame 102 with wheels 90, a novel boot 120, and a pair of external mounting blocks 110 disposed between the boot 120 and the frame 102. The external mounting blocks 110 are configured to attach the skate boot 120 to the skate frame 102, as discussed below. The boot 120 comprises a sole portion 124 that is fixedly attached to an upper portion 128. The frame 102 includes a plurality of axles 103 that rotatably mount the inline wheels 90. Although four wheels 90 are shown, it is contemplated that more or fewer wheels may alternatively be provided.

Although in this exemplary embodiment the skate assembly 100 is an inline skate, it is contemplated that the present invention may be practiced with other types of skates, including quad skates and skates having other ground engagement members, such as ice skate blades. In particular, the present invention may be practiced to permit the use of a single boot 120 with different conventional chassis for different types of skates, without modification to the conventional chassis.

The frame 102 further includes a heel platform 104 defining a rearward upper surface of the frame 102, and a toe platform 105 defining an upper surface located near the front of the frame 102. The heel platform 104 and toe platform 105 each have an aperture or mounting slot 106 therethrough (see, FIGS. 2A and 2B). Each mounting slot 106 is positioned to receive a fastener 134 for attaching the frame 102 to the boot 120 through the external mounting blocks 110, as discussed below.

A plan view of an external mounting block 110, having a generally rectangular solid shape, is shown in FIG. 3. The mounting block 110 may be formed from any suitable material to provide the required strength and rigidity, e.g., aluminum, nylon, or a composite material. The external mounting block 110 has four countersunk mounting apertures 111 disposed generally at each corner, and a central slot 112. The apertures 111 are sized to receive fasteners 130 (FIGS. 2A-2B) that extend therethrough to engage corresponding nut plates 125 embedded in the sole portion 124, attaching the mounting block 110 to the boot 120. The slot 112 includes a shaped recess 113 on the upper surface (facing the boot 120). The shaped recess 113 is sized to receive a nut 132 such that the nut 132 is slidable therein but is constrained from rotating. Means, such as an upper flange (not shown) about an edge of the shaped recess 113 may optionally be provided such that the nut 132 is captured in the recess 113.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the nut plates 125 are embedded in the sole portion 124, and are configured for attachment of the external mounting blocks 110 to the boot 120. The lower surface of the sole portion 124 has corresponding apertures to accommodate the fasteners 130. The fasteners 130 extend through the external mounting blocks 110 and releasably engage the nut plates 125 to fix the external mounting blocks 110 to the boot 120. When the external mounting blocks 110 are installed, the mounting nut 132 is captured in the shaped recess 113, and is rotationally locked. The frame mounting fastener 134 engages the captured nut 132 to attach the frame 102 to the boot 120 through the external mounting block 110. Although not shown, it will be appreciated that for ease of manufacture the plurality of nut plates 125 may be provided on one or two panels that are embedded in the sole 124.

Therefore, to assemble the skate assembly 100, one external mounting block 110 is attached near the toe portion 126 of the boot 120, and a second external mounting block 110 is attached near the heel portion 127 of the boot 120. The mounting nuts 132 are disposed in the respective shaped recesses 113, and are slidable within the recess such that the position of the boot 120 with respect to the frame 102 may be selectively adjusted. The frame mounting fasteners 134 are then inserted through the mounting slots 106 in the frame 102, and engage the corresponding mounting nuts 132.

It is contemplated that different external mounting blocks may be provided, to accommodate different frames and/or different user preferences. For example, alternative sets of external mounting blocks may locate the mounting slot 112 in different locations, such that different frame mounting spacings may be accommodated. In another example, external mounting blocks having different thicknesses may be provided, to allow a user to adjust their profile or height over the frame 102. Of course, external mounting blocks with different thicknesses may also allow a user to adjust the pitch of the boot 120, relative to the frame 102. A unique aspect of the present invention is the ability to adjust the height and/or the pitch of the boot 120 with respect to the frame 102 without any changes to either the boot 120 or frame 102, by merely using different external mounting blocks 110.

For example, FIG. 4 shows the boot 120 attached to the frame 102 with an alternative or second set of external mounting blocks 110A and 110B, wherein block 110A is much thicker than block 110B. It will now be appreciated that the present invention allows the user to install different mounting blocks to adjust the user's height over the frame, for example to accommodate different styles of skating. For example, for short track racing the user may desire to be higher over the frame for more leverage in turns, or for marathons or long track ice skating the user may desire to be lower for a lower center of gravity. With a skating system in accordance with the present invention the user can adjust the height over the frame, while using the same boot and/or frame.

A second embodiment of a skate assembly 150 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The skate assembly 150 is similar to the skate assembly 100 described above, and common aspects will not be reiterated, for brevity and clarity. FIG. 5 shows a fragmentary view of the sole portion 164 of a boot 160, attached to the heel platform 104 of the frame 102 described above, and FIG. 5 shows the boot 160 mounted to a different frame 102′ wherein the frame 102′ is shorter than the frame 102 shown in FIG. 1.

In this embodiment, the sole portion 164 has two sets of nut plates 125 embedded in the sole 164. In particular, the two sets of nut plates 125 are spaced such that the external mounting block 110 may be positioned in alternative locations on the sole 164, to accommodate different frames 102, 102′. For example, the two nut plates 125 shown on the right side in FIG. 5 may be spaced 3 cm from the two nut plates 125 shown on the left side in FIG. 5, such that the sole 164 may be mounted on either a frame having 165 mm spaced mounting (i.e., with the external mounting block 110 attached to the forward set of nut plates 125) or a frame having 195 mm spaced mounting (i.e., with the external mounting block 110 attached to the rearward set of nut plates 125). FIG. 6 shows the boot 160 mounted to a frame 102′ having a 165 mm spaced mounting. In an alternative embodiment, a second set of nut plates is also provided at the toe end of the boot, such that the user may shift both external mounting blocks 110 to accommodate different spacing for the heel and toe mounting locations.

The nut plates 125 embedded in the sole 124 are positioned such that the external mounting blocks 110 may be spaced apart at selected distances that correspond to different frames 102. In particular, the external mounting blocks 110 may be attached to the sole to accommodate frame mounting positions having a 150 mm spacing, a 165 mm spacing, or a 195 mm spacing.

As shown in FIG. 3 and discussed above, the external mounting blocks 110 may be provided with an elongate frame mounting slot 112 to allow adjusting the mounting position. The frames 102 may also have a transverse slot for attachment to the boot 120, which permits lateral adjustment of the 120 boot relative to the frame 102. The external mounting blocks 110 also may be provided in different thicknesses, so a user can select a relative vertical position between the heel 127 and toe 126 of the boot 120 relative to the frame 102.

Another novel aspect of the boots shown above is the shaped or molded foot bed member 122. It is desirable that the undersurface of the boot 120 be relatively flat at least where the boot 120 engages the frame 102. On the other hand, a user's foot is contoured, and it is desirable to have the upper surface of the sole 124 similarly contoured. The foot bed member 122 in this embodiment provides a contoured upper surface that is shaped to provide comfort and support to the user, and a relatively flat lower surface (at the location of the nut plates 125) such that a suitable flat surface abuts the heel and toe platforms 104, 105 on the frame 102.

In the current embodiment, the sole comprises an outer composite layer 121, a shaped foot bed 122, and an inner composite layer 123, wherein the foot bed 122 is enclosed between the outer and inner composite layers 121, 123. The foot bed 122 provides the variable thickness in the sole 124 defining the contoured upper surface of the sole 124. For example, the foot bed 122 may be a molded nylon component.

Alternatively, the skate boot may be made from a molded plastic with the nut plates 125 embedded imbedded directly therein during the molding process. The molded boot sole may therefore be provided with variable thickness, i.e., the upper surface of the molded boot sole can be contoured to match the anatomical shape of the human foot, while the lower surface of the molded boot sole is substantially flat or flat at the locations for attaching the external mounting blocks.

Although the disclosed embodiment includes internal nut plates in the sole 124 that provide attachment means with selectable spacing, it is contemplated that other attachment means may be embedded in the sole. For example, in a particular contemplated embodiment two or more rails, each defining an elongate slot are embedded in the sole, with a sliding mechanism, such that a number of different mounting spacings may be accommodated. This embodiment is believed to be particularly advantageous, for example, in the field of competitive long track ice skates, wherein the common blades having a larger number of front and rear mounting spacings (e.g., front and rear mounting spacings of 165 mm, 170 mm, 175 mm, 180 mm, etc.).

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a skate assembly 200 in accordance with the present invention, with the skate frame or ground engaging members removed, for clarity. In this embodiment, the boot 220 (with the upper portion indicated in phantom) includes a sole portion 224 which may be constructed similar to the sole 124 described above. In this embodiment, the sole portion 224 includes a front embedded attachment plate 225 defining a pair or parallel slots 226 (and with corresponding slots through the bottom of the sole 224), and a rear embedded attachment plate 205. A pair of bolts 227 are slidably disposed in each slot 226, and extend downwardly from the sole 224. An external mounting block 210, similar to the external mounting block 110 described above, includes apertures 211 that are sized to receive the bolts 227 therethrough, and corresponding nuts 228 attach the external mounting block 210 to the sole 224. The external mounting block 210 includes a center slot 212 with a shaped recess 213, similar to those described above, and is configured to trap a mounting nut 234 for attachment to the skate frame.

The rear attachment plate 205 is embedded in the heel end of the sole 224, and includes a pair of downwardly extending bolts 207. A shorter external mounting block 201 includes apertures 206 that engage the bolts 207. The external mounting block 201 is attached to the sole 224 with nuts 208. A slot 202 with a similar shaped recess 203 traps and rotatably locks the mounting nut 204, for attaching the boot 200 to the frame (not shown).

Another embodiment of a skate assembly 300 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 8, again with the skate frame and ground engagement members removed for clarity. The skate assembly 300 includes a sole 324 that may be constructed similar to the sole 124 described above, for example with inner and outer composite layers, and an internal shaped foot bed.

The sole 324 further defines a forward or toe recess 316 and a rearward or heel recess 317 on the bottom of the sole 324. An attachment plate 325 is embedded in the sole 324 at both the toe recess 316 and at the heel recess 117. Each attachment plate 325 includes nuts or threaded apertures 321. Preferably there is also a corresponding aperture through the bottom of the sole 324.

The recesses 316, 317 are sized and shaped to receive external mounting blocks 310 and 301 respectively. The external mounting blocks 301, 310 have first apertures 311 that are aligned with the attachment plate apertures 321, such that the external mounting blocks 301, 310 may be removably attached to the sole 324 with fasteners 327. In this embodiment each external mounting block 301, 310 has four first apertures 311 disposed in a substantially square pattern. Other aperture arrangements are possible, and are contemplated by the present invention.

The external mounting blocks further include threaded apertures 312 for attachment of the frame (not shown) to the boot 300. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a pair of threaded apertures are shown, to accommodate frames or trucks having a two-hole pattern at each end. Such hole patterns are common, for example, with trucks for quad skates.

It will be apparent from the description above with regard to FIGS. 1-3, however, that a different set of external mounting blocks may be provided similar to external mounting blocks 301 and 310, except having a center slot, such that the boot 320 may be used with an inline skate frame. A third set of external mounting blocks may be used to attach the boot 320 to a quad skate having a truck with a different hole pattern, or to change the position of the boot on any particular skate.

The skate assemblies and systems disclosed herein provide the skating professional and the skating enthusiast with the ability to use a single boot with a plurality of different skate chassis, and with the ability to adjust the position of the boot with respect to the skate chassis to accommodate different conditions.

While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A skate assembly comprising: a boot having a sole portion and an upper portion, wherein the sole portion further comprises a first plurality of attachment members embedded in a toe end of the sole portion, and a second plurality of attachment members embedded in a heel end of the sole portion; a frame supporting a ground engaging member, the frame having a toe platform and a heel platform; a forward external mounting block removably attached to the sole portion with fasteners that engage the first plurality of attachment members, the forward external mounting block further comprising a nut and bolt configured to attach the forward external mounting block to the toe platform; and a first rearward external mounting block removably attached to the sole portion with fasteners that engage the second plurality of attachment members, the first rearward external mounting block further comprising a nut and bolt configured to attach the first rearward external mounting block to the heel platform.
 2. The skate assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises one of an inline skate frame, an ice skate frame, and a quad skate frame.
 3. The skate assembly of claim 2, further comprising a third plurality of attachment members embedded in the sole portion, and wherein at least one of the forward external mounting blocks and the first rearward external mounting block is removably attachable to the sole portion with fasteners that engage the third plurality of attachment members.
 4. The skate assembly of claim 3, wherein the first plurality of attachment members are approximately 195 mm from the second plurality of attachment members.
 5. The skate assembly of claim 4, wherein the first plurality of attachment members are approximately 165 mm from the third plurality of attachment members.
 6. The skate assembly of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of attachment members comprise nut plates.
 7. The skate assembly of claim 1, wherein the forward and first rearward mounting blocks comprise one of nylon and aluminum.
 8. The skate assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second rearward external mounting block that is thicker than the first rearward external mounting block and is interchangeable with the first external mounting block.
 9. The skate assembly of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of attachment members extend out from the sole portion and are slidably disposed in the sole portion.
 10. The skate assembly of claim 1, wherein the sole portion comprises a first recessed portion disposed adjacent the first plurality of attachment members, and further wherein the forward external mounting block is shaped to fit in the first recessed portion.
 11. The skate assembly of claim 1, wherein the skate assembly comprises an inline skate.
 12. The skate assembly of claim 1, wherein the sole portion comprises a contoured foot bed encased by upper and lower composite panels.
 13. The skate assembly of claim 12, wherein the foot bed is molded and has variable thickness.
 14. A skate assembly comprising: a boot having a sole portion and an upper portion, wherein the sole portion further comprises a first attachment member embedded in a toe end of the sole portion, and a second attachment member embedded in a heel end of the sole portion; a first frame having a front attachment platform spaced a first distance from a back attachment platform; a forward external mounting block removably attached to the first attachment member, the forward external mounting block further comprising hardware configured to attach the forward external mounting block to the front attachment platform of the first frame; and a rearward external mounting block removably attached to the second attachment member, the rearward external mounting block further comprising hardware configured to attach the rearward external mounting block to the back attachment platform of the first frame.
 15. The skate assembly of claim 14, further comprising a second frame having a front attachment platform spaced a second distance from a back attachment platform, wherein the first distance is different from the second distance.
 16. The skate assembly of claim 15, wherein the sole portion further comprises a third attachment member embedded in the sole portion at a location between the first attachment member and the second attachment member, and further wherein the forward external mounting block hardware is configured to attach the forward external mounting block to the front attachment platform of the second frame and the rearward external mounting block hardware is configured to attach the rearward external mounting block to the back attachment platform of the second frame.
 17. The skate assembly of claim 14, wherein the first frame comprises one of an inline skate frame, an ice skate frame, and a quad skate frame.
 18. The skate assembly of claim 14, further comprising a third attachment member embedded in the sole portion, and wherein at least one of the forward external mounting block and the rearward external mounting block is removably attachable to the sole portion with a fastener that engage the third attachment member.
 19. The skate assembly of claim 15, wherein the first distance is 195 mm and the second distance is 165 mm from the third plurality of attachment members.
 20. The skate assembly of claim 14, wherein the first and second attachment members comprise nut plates.
 21. The skate assembly of claim 14, wherein the forward and first rearward mounting blocks comprise one of nylon and aluminum.
 22. The skate assembly of claim 14, further comprising a second rearward external mounting block that is thicker than the first rearward external mounting block and is interchangeable with the first external mounting block.
 23. The skate assembly of claim 14, wherein the sole portion comprises a first recessed portion disposed adjacent the first attachment member, and further wherein the forward external mounting block is shaped to fit in the first recessed portion.
 24. The skate assembly of claim 14, wherein the skate assembly comprises an inline skate.
 25. The skate assembly of claim 14, wherein the sole portion comprises a contoured foot bed encased by upper and lower composite panels. 